This morning, as usual, I staggered out of bed just after 6 am, padded to the kitchen, and flipped the switch on my Proctor-Silex coffee maker which I’ve had for almost twenty years, but it didn’t turn on.  Oh no!  I slapped it and shook it vigorously, but to no avail: the machine was definitely dead.

This coffee-maker has been totally reliable for so long that I was determined to fix it if I could, so I turned it over, hoping to be able to take it apart, wiggle the wire, and maybe figure out what was wrong.   Much to my surprise, this is what I saw:

Made in USA

Really, when was the last time you bought an appliance that was made in America?

Unfortunately, I also saw that the screws could not be taken out with any of the screw-drivers I own, so I would say that this appliance is unrepairable at this point.  I’m sure I’ll end up buying another one, but will I be able to find anything not made in China?  You’ve heard about people trying to only eat food grown within 100 miles of their homes, but there are also families who pledge not to buy anything made in China.  I don’t know which would be more difficult.

[Update on Feb 19:  Decided to buy an AeroPress coffee maker from Aerobie.  And guess what?  It’s made in the USA!]

[Update on Feb 25: Tried the new coffee maker for the first time, and it works as advertised.  Yay.]

[Update on Feb 26:  I wanted to mention that the Proctor-Silex coffee maker which served me so well and faithfully for so many years was given to me by my friend C-H, who donated it to me when he moved from Amherst to New Jersey.  Thank you again!]